The final day of the Mountains to Sea Greenway saw us climb the last couple of kilometres to reach the highest point of Taiwan—the 3,952-metre summit of Jade Mountain.
English Version
MOUNTAINS to SEA GREENWAY DAY 10 (山海圳國家級綠道D10)
On the penultimate day of the MSTW, we made our way onwards and upwards to the summit of Jade Mountain. The morning's weather was perfect and the trail stretched out in front of us with beautiful scenery all around.
KEELUNG MOUNTAIN NIGHT HIKE (基隆山夜爬)
Keelung Mountain offers great views at either end of the day, and who doesn’t want to see the sight of Jiufen snuggled into the hills as it beds down for the day?
TIGER MOUNTAIN (虎山)
Tiger Mountain is one of the four beasts that guard the south of Taipei's Xinyi District and although steep, the climb can be knocked out in under two hours, with plenty of time left for exploring the eateries and shopping opportunities that Xinyi has to offer.
FUSHAN BOTANICAL GARDEN (福山植物園)
Fushan Botanical Garden sits so deep within the hills of Yilan that it's actually in New Taipei's Wulai District.
MOUNTAINS to SEA GREENWAY DAY 9 (山海圳國家級綠道D9)
Day nine on the MSTW was challenging and beautiful in equal measure. I ended up taking an alternative route that saw me passing through the kind of achingly beautiful forest scenery that categorically must be inhabited by mountain spirits of some kind.
ERYANPING TEA TRAIL (二延平步道)
This beautiful trail in the hills of Chiayi's Fanlu Township has been voted one of the top 100 trails in Taiwan and it's not hard to see why. Wisps of mist weave through bamboo and a sea of clouds laps at tea-covered slopes — it is a quintessentially Taiwan trail.
SONGLUO NATIONAL TRAIL (松蘿國家步道)
Songluo Trail is a very scenic waterside hike in Yilan's Datong District. Formerly a Tayal hunting route, it has now been fashioned into a family-friendly trail that is perfect for keeping the summer heat at bay.
MOUNTAINS to SEA GREENWAY DAY 8 (山海圳國家級綠道D8)
Day eight on the MSTW was when things start to get really, properly scenic. This day completes the last couple of sections of the Tribal Trail as the route makes its way ever onwards towards the high mountains. The highlight of this day's walking is the charming and forested Tefuye Historic Trail.
DAJIAN MOUNTAIN NIGHT HIKE (大尖山夜爬)
This short hike in New Taipei’s Xizhi District combines a Xiao Bai Yue with pretty night views. It’s small, too, so it’s a perfect post-dinner or pre-supper walk for anyone planning to grab some grub at Xizhi’s Tourist Night Market.